Reliable energy, fundamental to industrialisation, employment generation – NSE

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ibadan Branch, says reliable energy is fundamental to industrialisation, employment generation, technological advancement and improved quality of life.

The Chairman of the branch, Engr. Ayokunnu Ojedele, said this at the 32nd edition of the Late Engr. Lawrence Arokodare Memorial Lecture on Monday in Ibadan.

The lecture is themed “Oyo State Electricity: Past, Present and Future”.

Ojedele said electricity is not an issue for electrical engineers alone, as it concerns traders, artisans, students, hospitals, farmers, manufacturers and families whose everyday lives depend on power.

He said conversations on power must go beyond whether there is light in homes to address where the state is coming from, its present challenges and how stakeholders can build a reliable and sustainable future.

According to him, engineers have a special responsibility to provide technically sound, economically viable and environmentally responsible solutions, while effective policies and stakeholders’ cooperation are also critical.

He said the lecture should not end with applause but should stimulate conversations, ideas, partnerships and practical actions for the state’s power sector.

The Guest Lecturer, Engr. Ibraheem Folarin Bello, said Nigeria faces the double challenge of generating enough electricity and delivering it effectively to a large and widely dispersed population.

Folarin, a Fellow of the NSE and immediate past Chairman of the branch, called for consideration of a new 330/132 kV transmission station in Ibadan.

According to him, the Ayede station has served Ibadan since 1978 as the only 330 kV gateway with aged equipment and concentrated load.

He said a second injection point would guarantee energy security, reduce network losses and voltage drops, create room for new industrial estates and provide strong nodes for embedded generation and mini-grids.

On generation, he recommended completion of the 6MW Ikere Gorge Hydropower Plant, expansion of gas-fired and renewable plants near industrial clusters and prioritisation of solar-plus-battery systems for rural communities and public facilities.

On transmission and distribution, Folarin urged the Federal Government, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to upgrade transformers and lines.

In addition, he called for a South-West transmission master plan, replacement of overloaded distribution transformers, building of new feeders and publication of performance data.

Folarin also called for strengthening of regulation and diversification through independent power projects, including the 12MW Ibadan Gas Project, accelerated rural electrification and improved metering and consumer protection.

Meanwhile, the NSE President, Engr. Ali Rabiu, represented by the former NSE president, Chief Muyiwa Ajibola, described the 32-year-old lecture as a celebration of professional excellence and a tribute to Late Engr. Lawrence Arokodare.

He commended the Ibadan Branch for its organisational consistency, noting that the late Arokodare exemplified professional competence and service to humanity.

Thereafter, Ali said electricity remains a critical driver of economic growth.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Arch. Bunmi Arokodare commended NSE Ibadan for sustaining the memorial and urged stakeholders to take the lecture’s recommendations forward to positively impact production and the environment.

The Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, promised to align the recommendations with his administration’s power policies, if elected.

Also, Sen. Yunus Akintunde, APC-Oyo Central, called for more investment in renewable energy and independent power generation.

The highlights of the event included the annual Arokodare awards for best graduating Civil Engineering students from the University of Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan.